The full flat-rate state pension looks set to climb by £488 a year next April, taking it to £13,036.40, according to new official figures reported by the BBC. That would push the weekly payment to £250.70 for the roughly 13 million people who claim it across the UK.
The projected state pension rise for April 2026 comes from the triple lock guarantee, which lifts payments each year by the highest of three measures: average wage growth, inflation, or 2.5%. This year, wage growth is set to win out.
Nothing is locked in yet. The final figure depends on September’s inflation reading, due next month, but the numbers already point strongly towards a wage-led increase.
Why is the state pension rising in April 2026?
The triple lock decides the annual uplift. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), average wage growth including bonuses eased to 3.9% between May and July. That still sits comfortably above inflation, which currently stands at 2.9%.
Because wage growth is the highest of the three triple-lock measures, it is expected to set the increase. Inflation is not forecast to overtake the wages figure when September’s data lands, so the 3.9% uplift looks likely to hold.
The triple lock was introduced under the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition. Labour pledged in its manifesto to keep it, and Prime Minister Andy Burnham has committed to maintaining the policy.
How much will the state pension be in April 2026?
The uplift depends on when you reached state pension age. Based on the projected 3.9% rise, the BBC reports the following likely figures:
- New flat-rate state pension (reached pension age after April 2016): £250.70 a week, or £13,036.40 a year — an increase of £488.
- Old basic state pension (reached pension age before April 2016): £192.10 a week, or £9,989.20 a year — an increase of £374.40.
So, if you retired in 2020 and receive the full new state pension, your annual income from it would rise by roughly £488, reaching just over £13,000.
Will pensioners have to pay tax on the state pension?
Here is the twist. A 3.9% rise would take the full flat-rate state pension to £13,036.40 — above the personal allowance of £12,570, the point at which income tax kicks in. On paper, that makes the full new state pension liable for income tax for the first time.
However, the Labour government has previously pledged that pensioners who rely solely on the state pension would not be required to complete a tax return, nor be chased for payment. In practice, that means those with no other income should not face a tax bill despite crossing the threshold.
When will the increase be confirmed?
The rise will not be official until September’s inflation figures are published next month. Since inflation is running at 2.9% and is not expected to beat the wages figure, the wage-led increase is the most likely outcome.
The new rates would then take effect from April 2026, applied automatically to payments. Pensioners do not need to apply or take any action to receive the higher amount.
Why is the triple lock under scrutiny?
The cost of the policy is drawing growing criticism as the number of pensioners is expected to rise in coming years. Ruth Curtice, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation think tank, described a “ratchet effect” where “pensioners’ living standards grow even faster than just a typical worker”.
Speaking on the Today programme, Curtice said: “It’s not affordable in any situation to simply have pensions rising faster than earnings because earnings are a big part of the tax base. Pensioners have seen living standards grow three times more than typical workers over the last 20 years.”
Liam McLaughlin, an associate economist at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (Niesr), said the increase added “fiscal pressure at a time when the triple lock is already under scrutiny”.
The same ONS release painted a mixed picture of the wider jobs market. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.9%, but the number of vacancies and employees on payrolls fell in recent months.
Where can I check the official figures?
The forecast and the underlying wage data were reported by the BBC, drawing on figures from the Office for National Statistics. You can read the full BBC report at bbc.co.uk. Confirmed state pension rates for 2026-27 will be set out by the government once September’s inflation figure is published.
